Chrysler Relents: Will Recall Older Model Jeeps

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Jeeps that are being recalled have been involved in deadly fires after rear-end crashes. Chrysler says that’s wrong, that crash data show the Jeeps are among the safest on the road.

Originally, the NHTSA had requested that 2.7 million vehicles be recalled. Initially, Chrysler resisted but after extensive negotiations with government regulators, the automaker agreed to recall the smaller number of Jeeps.

According to the federal government, at least 51 deaths have been attributed to defective fuel tanks – that can be punctured in a rear-end collision – in the older model Jeep Grand Cherokees and Jeep Liberty SUVs. 62 year-old Houston retired welder Omar de la Rosa was killed on June 4th when his 1993 Jeep broke down and was rear-ended on the Sam Houston Parkway. The rear-end collision caused the Jeep to explode in flames.